BFC ponders problem of research space on Bloomington, IUPUI campuses

Across campus, students, graduate students and faculty struggle on a daily basis to find space within IU's jam-packed world to take part in daily life. \nTuesday, the Bloomington Faculty Council discussed a report from the Joint Research Space Task Force at IU-Bloomington and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis concerning the need for research space across the campuses.\nThe proposal to the BFC is to advance the school's research mission by adding a tremendous amount of research space that will include wet laboratories, animal care facilities, art and music studios, focus group study areas, "hardened" machine rooms and faculty office space in which reading, writing, and thinking will take place.\nWhile the shortage of quality space seems to have no relationship to educational quality or national prestige, in order for the campus to develop and prosper in the future, it is necessary to expand the research and teaching facilities the task force found, the task force explained.\n"Space is the biggest impediment holding this university back from being a research university," said Vice President for Research Michael McRobbie. \nThe plan presented by the Long-Range Planning Committee is to explore creative ways to plan, finance and construct new academic facilities that will contribute to the primary academic mission of IU. The plan is currently in phase one, and the next step is to construct a developmental plan. The overall project is expected to take 10 to 20 years. \nThere is an overall understanding that the immediate need for research facilities must be balanced against other high-priority campus needs. However, the Planning Committee said the BFC must make a comprehensive, strategic review of the current campus funding priorities.\nMany members of the BFC felt the lack of research space was not the only space concern within the University. Members of the BFC stated that in addition to research space, the resolution should expand to include office space, classrooms, and space for associate instructors and graduate students.\nAssociate instructor space on campus is a growing concern said Melissa Adams, a member of the Graduate and Professional Student Organization. AI's constantly meet students for office hours in the hallways of buildings or public coffee shops, Adams said.\n"The fundamental role of this institution is to serve our graduate and undergraduate students," Adams said.\nGraduate students are expected to research and contribute just as faculty do; therefore they deserve the adequate space the faculty has, Adams said. \nJohn Slattery, the dean of graduate students, said AI's need to have space added to certain areas where they can hold office hours, conduct research and store materials. \n"This is not detracting from the need for research space," Slattery said. "But a learning commons designated (for meeting space) would serve that purpose."\nThe issue of space as a whole is seen to be a very pressing issue on IU's campus. \nAssistant Vice President and University Architect Bob Meadows said the discussion of the need for more space is ultimately part of the first step in fixing the problem. The committee will continue to weigh all the pros and cons until an unanimous agreement can be made. He said they are looking at a huge amount of space, moving spaces and dealing with issues like the ongoing parking concerns. \n"This is framework," Meadows said. "I hope it would be a long process where many people at this table can have a voice."\n-- Contact staff writer Kristin Huett at khuett@indiana.edu.